Yusuf Hassan, Kamukunji in the Headlines

From UN Diplomat to Kamukunji MP: The Yusuf Hassan Story

Yusuf Hassan is the Member of Parliament for Kamukunji, Nairobi County (2013–present), after spending decades as an international civil servant with the United Nations. He served in high-pressure UNHCR postings including Geneva, Addis Ababa, Liberia, and the Iraq/Jordan response, before returning home to serve Eastleigh and the wider constituency through advocacy for refugees, the urban poor, and digital empowerment.

From UN Diplomat to Kamukunji MP: The Yusuf Hassan Story

Constituency: Kamukunji, Nairobi County
Current Role: Member of Parliament (2013–Present)

Education

Pre-Political Career: A Distinguished International Diplomat

Long before entering Kenyan politics, Yusuf Hassan built a decades-long career as an international civil servant,
primarily with the United Nations. His work focused on humanitarian affairs, public information, and diplomacy.

He served for over 20 years with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in various high-stakes
posts across the globe. His roles often involved managing communications and public information in complex refugee
situations.

Key UNHCR Postings

  • Geneva, Switzerland: Senior Public Information Officer at UNHCR headquarters.
  • Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Regional Spokesperson and Senior Public Information Officer for the Horn of Africa. His tenure there ended abruptly in October 2006, when the Ethiopian government declared him persona non grata and ordered him to leave the country within 48 hours. This was reportedly due to his reporting on the sensitive conflict between Ethiopia and Somalia, which Ethiopian authorities found unfavorable.
  • Liberia: UNHCR Senior Public Information Officer during the country’s post-civil war period.
  • Iraq & Jordan: Following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Hassan was deployed to Amman, Jordan, as the UNHCR Spokesperson and Senior Public Information Officer for the Iraq situation, managing the narrative around one of the world’s largest refugee crises at the time.

Other International Roles

  • International Organization for Migration (IOM): Prior to joining UNHCR, he worked for the IOM in Geneva.
  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): He also served with the UNDP in Somalia during the early 1990s following the collapse of the state.
  • Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD): He worked as a consultant for this regional bloc in Eastern Africa.

Transition to Kenyan Politics

After retiring from the UN, Yusuf Hassan returned to Kenya and settled back into Nairobi. His deep roots in the
Kamukunji constituency, particularly in Eastleigh, and his vast experience in governance, diplomacy, and managing
complex human issues, propelled him into politics.

He first contested the Kamukunji parliamentary seat in the 2013 general elections on a The National Alliance (TNA) ticket, aligning with Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Coalition. He won the election, marking a significant shift from an international diplomat to a grassroots legislator. His career has since been defined by his advocacy for the urban poor, refugee rights, and digital empowerment programs like the Ajira Digital Clubs, which draw upon his global perspective on development.